2000 Stanley Cup playoffs


The 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs, was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League, that began on April 12, 2000, and concluded on June 10. The New Jersey Devils defeated the reigning champion Dallas Stars in a six-game series to win their second Stanley Cup title in franchise history.
Sixteen teams qualified for the playoffs, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series in each round, ending with each conference's champion playing a best-of-seven series in the Stanley Cup Finals for the Stanley Cup.
The Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks both missed the playoffs this year. This would not happen again until 2014, when all four Western Canadian teams missed the playoffs.
For the first time in history, only two Original Six teams made it to the playoffs. This has happened five more times since then, with most recent occurrence happening in 2025.
Also, for the first time in history, both the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens missed the playoffs in the same season.
In addition, both conference finals went to the maximum seven games. This did not happen again until 2015.

Playoff seeds

The top eight teams in each conference qualified for the playoffs. The top three seeds in each conference were awarded to the division winners; while the five remaining spots were awarded to the highest finishers in their respective conferences.
The following teams qualified for the playoffs:

Eastern Conference

  1. Philadelphia Flyers, Atlantic Division champions, Eastern Conference regular season champions – 105 points
  2. [1999–2000 1999–2000 Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals], Southeast Division champions – 102 points
  3. [1999–2000 1999–2000 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs], Northeast Division champions – 100 points
  4. [1999–2000 1999–2000 New Jersey Devils season|New Jersey Devils season|New Jersey Devils] – 103 points
  5. [1999–2000 1999–2000 Florida Panthers season|Florida Panthers season|Florida Panthers] – 98 points
  6. [1999–2000 1999–2000 Ottawa Senators season|Ottawa Senators season|Ottawa Senators] – 95 points
  7. [1999–2000 1999–2000 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins] – 88 points
  8. [1999–2000 1999–2000 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres] – 85 points

Western Conference

  1. St. Louis Blues, Central Division champions, Western Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners – 114 points
  2. Dallas Stars, Pacific Division champions – 102 points
  3. Colorado Avalanche, Northwest Division champions – 96 points
  4. Detroit Red Wings – 108 points
  5. [1999–2000 1999–2000 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles Kings] – 94 points
  6. [1999–2000 1999–2000 Phoenix Coyotes season|Phoenix Coyotes season|Phoenix Coyotes] – 90 points
  7. [1999–2000 1999–2000 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers] – 88 points
  8. [1999–2000 1999–2000 San Jose Sharks season|San Jose Sharks season|San Jose Sharks] – 87 points

Playoff bracket

In each round, teams competed in a best-of-seven series following a 2–2–1–1–1 format. The team with home ice advantage played at home for games one and two, and the other team played at home for games three and four. The top eight teams in each conference made the playoffs, with the three division winners seeded 1–3 based on regular season record, and the five remaining teams seeded 4–8.
The NHL used "re-seeding" instead of a fixed bracket playoff system. During the first three rounds, the highest remaining seed in each conference was matched against the lowest remaining seed, the second-highest remaining seed played the second-lowest remaining seed, and so forth. The higher-seeded team was awarded home ice advantage. The two conference winners then advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, where home ice advantage was awarded to the team that had the better regular season record.

Conference quarterfinals

Eastern Conference quarterfinals

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (8) Buffalo Sabres

The Philadelphia Flyers finished first in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference during the regular season with 105 points. The Buffalo Sabres qualified as the eighth seed earning 85 points. This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams; with Philadelphia winning four of the five previous series. They last met in the 1998 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, which Buffalo won in five games. Philadelphia won three of the four games in this year's regular season series.

(2) Washington Capitals vs. (7) Pittsburgh Penguins

The Washington Capitals entered the playoffs as the Southeast Division champions earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference with 102 points. The Pittsburgh Penguins earned the seventh seed with 88 points. This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams; with Pittsburgh winning four of the five previous series. They last met in the 1996 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, which Pittsburgh won in six games. Pittsburgh won three of the four games in this year's regular season series. Games 2 & 3 were played in Pittsburgh with Game 4 being played in Washington due to scheduling conflicts.

(3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (6) Ottawa Senators

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the playoffs as the third seed in the Eastern Conference after winning the Northeast Division with 100 points. The Ottawa Senators earned the sixth seed with 95 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Ottawa won three of the four games in this year's regular season series. Ottawa won this year's five-game regular season series earning seven of ten points.

(4) New Jersey Devils vs. (5) Florida Panthers

The New Jersey Devils entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with 103 points. The Florida Panthers earned the fifth seed with 98 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. New Jersey won three of the four games in this year's regular season series.

Western Conference quarterfinals

(1) St. Louis Blues vs. (8) San Jose Sharks

The St. Louis Blues entered the playoffs as the Presidents' Trophy winners as the NHL's best regular season team with 114 points. The San Jose Sharks entered the playoffs as the eighth seed finishing the season with 87 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. St. Louis won this year's five-game regular season series earning nine of ten points.

(2) Dallas Stars vs. (7) Edmonton Oilers

The Dallas Stars entered the playoffs as the Pacific Division champions earning the second seed in the Western Conference with 102 points. The Edmonton Oilers earned the seventh seed with 88 points. This was the fourth consecutive and sixth overall playoff match-up between these two teams; with Dallas winning three of the five previous series. Dallas won last year's Western Conference Quarterfinals in a four-game sweep. Dallas won this year's four-game regular season series earning seven of eight points.

(3) Colorado Avalanche vs. (6) Phoenix Coyotes

The Colorado Avalanche entered the playoffs as the third seed in the Western Conference by winning the Northwest Division with 96 points. The Phoenix Coyotes earned the sixth seed with 90 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. These teams split their four-game regular season series.

(4) Detroit Red Wings vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings

The Detroit Red Wings entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Western Conference with 108 points. The Los Angeles Kings earned the fifth seed with 94 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. These teams split their five-game regular season series.

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference semifinals

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (7) Pittsburgh Penguins

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams; with Philadelphia winning both previous series. They last met in the 1997 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, which Philadelphia won in five games. Philadelphia won this year's five-game regular season series earning nine of ten points.
Game four was the third-longest game in playoff history, as well as the longest since the NHL expanded in 1967.

(3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) New Jersey Devils

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Toronto won this year's four-game regular season series earning seven of eight points.
Martin Brodeur set a Stanley Cup playoff record in game six for the least shots against required to record a shutout in a single game.

Western Conference semifinals

(2) Dallas Stars vs. (8) San Jose Sharks

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams; with Dallas winning the only previous series. Their only previous meeting was in the 1998 Western Conference Quarterfinals, which Dallas won in six games. San Jose won four of the six games in this year's regular season series.

(3) Colorado Avalanche vs. (4) Detroit Red Wings

This was the second consecutive playoff meeting and fourth overall playoff match-up between these two teams; with Colorado winning two of the three previous series. Colorado won last year's Western Conference Semifinals in six games. Detroit won four of the five games in this year's regular season series.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference final

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (4) New Jersey Devils

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams; with the teams splitting the two previous series. They last met in the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals, which New Jersey won in six games. This was Philadelphia's sixth appearance in the Conference Finals; they last made it to the Conference Finals in 1997 where they defeated the New York Rangers in five games. This was New Jersey's fourth appearance in the Conference Finals; they last made it to the Conference Finals in 1995. New Jersey won four of the five games during this year's regular season series.
The Devils overcame a 3–1 deficit to defeat the Flyers in seven games. In game seven Devils' forward Patrik Elias scored the series-winner at 17:28 of the third period. Eric Lindros suffered a concussion after getting hit by Scott Stevens in the first period of game seven and did not return; as a result of the hit this was the last game he played as a Flyer.

Western Conference final

(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche

This was the second consecutive playoff meeting and second postseason match-up between these two teams. This was a rematch of last year's Western Conference Final, which Dallas won in seven games. Dallas made their third consecutive and fifth overall appearance in the Conference Finals; while Colorado made their second consecutive and sixth overall appearance in the Conference Finals. Colorado won this year's five-game regular season series earning seven of ten points.

Stanley Cup Finals

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Dallas made their second consecutive and fourth overall appearance in the Finals, after defeating the Buffalo Sabres in six games the year before. New Jersey made their second Finals appearance and first since defeating the Detroit Red Wings in four games in 1995. Dallas won both games in this year's regular season series.

Playoff statistics

Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points.
PlayerTeam
Dallas Stars23111324+34
Dallas Stars23101323+310
New Jersey Devils2381220+718
New Jersey Devils2371320+99
Philadelphia Flyers1861218+36
New Jersey Devils239817+810
Pittsburgh Penguins118816+56
Colorado Avalanche167815+912
Colorado Avalanche1741115+721
Colorado Avalanche1741014+74

Goaltenders

This is a combined table of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage, with at least 420 minutes played. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.
PlayerTeam
New Jersey Devils23167537391.61.9272 1450:04
Pittsburgh Penguins1165398221.77.9452 746:03
Colorado Avalanche17116431311.79.9283 1039:20
Dallas Stars23149651451.87.9314 1442:56
Detroit Red Wings954237181.97.9242 546:54